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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tony Aidoo pushes for prosecution of alleged NDC fraudster

Dr. Tony Aidoo

Dr. Tony Aidoo, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Castle is impressing upon the police to prosecute a man who allegedly used letter-heads from the Office of the President to extort monies from some state institutions.

He argued that, despite suspicions that the alleged fraudster is a sympathiser of the ruling party, anyone caught in an attempt to defraud must face the law.

The suspect whose name was given as Moses Maxwell is said to have allegedly used funds he raised, posing as the President’s Secretary, to finance the studies of some NDC foot soldiers in the United Kingdom.

The suspect was arrested last Friday in a sting operation when he attempted to extort $5,000 from the Volta River Authority and mentioned some top officials apart from the President’s Secretary as people who are aware of his dealings.

But Dr. Tony Aidoo told Joy News he has asked the police to go ahead and prosecute the suspect.

“An official of the VRA informed me that they received a communication from somebody purporting that he is Mr Bebaako Mensah and that he wanted some money. They laid a trap and, more or less, caught the person. That is the end of the story. Those who break the law must face the law, it doesn’t matter where they are coming from.”

Dr Tony Aidoo denied knowing the suspect and said his actions have put the image of the presidency into disrepute.

He debunked claims that efforts are being made by some powers that be to ensure the suspect's release.

“Why should they [at Castle] intervene, it is their integrity that is at stake and if you are an official at the Castle and your name is being misused for fraudulent purposes, I think it should be in your interest to see that such things do not occur and the best way is for the failed fraudster to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others,” Dr Aidoo told Joy News’ Elvis Adjetey.

Public Relations Officer of the Greater Accra Region Police, Chief Inspector, Kwaku Dompreh, said the case is being investigated by he Ministries Police Station.

He said the suspect is in custody and when enough evidence have been adduced against him, he would be charged for fraud.

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The people of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Djibouti, Cameroon, Gabon are demanding democracy, rule of law and jobs from their leaders. Since January protests have rocked North African states of Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya. Similar protests have also taken place in Cameroon and Gabon.

The protesters have embraced jet fighters, helicopter gunships, armoured carrier assaults, water cannons, tear gas and camel charge. Thousands have died and tens of thousands have been injured. We cannot watch quietly while a part of humanity is being brutalised. The people of Libya, Cameroon and Gabon need our support. They need our prayers,and our encouragement. Our silence means victory for the totalitarian regimes. Let's us support them. This is the time and opportunity to make a difference. Raise your voice against injustice, oppression and dictatorship. Let us support them Now!!!. Join and invite your friends to join.

POLITICIANS AND THE ROT IN GHANA'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Ghana:The Bright Star that Failed to Shine

A protest message to African Leaders

A message to the Thieves & Tyrants in Africa

"But history offers a clear verdict:governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable and more successful than governments that do not.No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt".PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

HAVE YOU HEARD OF AFRICOM?

WELL, LIKE COLONIALISM AND IMPERIALISM, AFRICOM IS THE NEW UNITED STATES MILITARY PROJECT THAT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH MILITARY BASES ACROSS AFRICA WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SECURING AFRICA'S RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF US CONSUMERS.

The Question is : Have Africans fail to appreciate sufficiently the bitter pill they swallowed under colonialism? Have Africans forgotten so soon the human and societal damage wreaked on them by Europeans through centuries of slavery, genocide, economic exploitation, cultural manipulation and political domination? Lord A. Adusei

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Stop Corruption

Corruption in Ghana

Cluster Map

African money stolen so far

Africa has lost $140 billion through corruption in the decades since independence, says Nigeria’s president, Olusegun Obasanjo. The huge sum, largely spirited away by leaders and their associates, was one of the main reasons why Africa’s poverty was so severe.

Other names mentioned by the French Weekly were President Henri Bedie of Ivory Coast, 2 billion FF (or $300 million); President Denis N'guesso of Congo, 1.2 billion FF (or $200 million); President Omar Bongo of Gabon, 0.5 billion FF (or $ $80 million); President Paul Biya of Cameroon, 450 million FF (or $70 million); President Haile Mariam of Ethiopia, 200 million FF (or $30 million); and President Hissene Habre of Chad,20 million FF (or $3 million). Bear in mind that this list does not reflect the actual amount of money stolen out of Africa by these dictators. Factually, the mentioned figures had changed significantly since the French Weekly article was published in 1997. There are now new African billionaires and millionaires, including indicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor, President Gabassinga Eyadema of Togo, former Liberian Warlord Alhaji Kromah, former Ghanaian dictator Jerry J. Rawlings, and the late President Samuel Doe of Liberia; a host of African government ministers would make an updated list. While returning funds stolen out of Africa is the right thing to do, efforts must be made by the West and responsible African governments {i.e. the government of Botswana, etc.} to alter international banking laws that will make it difficult for Africa's government officials and corrupt business personalities to transfer huge funds into western banks. The measure was first proposed following the September 11, 2001 attacks but was rebuffed by western financial institutions. Again, we need to revisit this issue: the terrorists could use the thieves in Africa's government Ministries to transfer money into western bank accounts—the money could be used at a later time for terrorists' activities.

(Paul Japheth Sunwabe) Paul Japheth Sunwabe (a native of Liberia) is a graduate student of World Politics at The Catholic University of America. He is also the co-founder and President of Freedom and International Justice, a Washington DC based inclusive political organization seeking democracy, social justice and economic reforms in Africa. For this and subsequent articles, please visit www.freedomjusticef54.org/articles/

A major shift in funding development in Africa is accelerating. Major donors have been urging African governments to eradicate corruption or face cuts in aid. (African Recovery, by Sam Chege)

Despite the country’s abundant natural resources, including copper, gold and diamonds, the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to sink further into poverty. Meanwhile, Mobutu, the late president who died in 1997, amassed a personal fortune of $5 billion, which was deposited in Swiss banks. (CNN world news, September 7, 1997). After more than three years of legal wrangling, the Nigerian government has finally achieved a major breakthrough in it’s efforts to recoup a substantial amount of money looted by the former president, General Sani Abacha. The money was stored in Swiss bank accounts. Abacha, who died of an apparent heart attack in 1998, had been accused of stealing nearly $3 billion from state funds in a series of staggering revelations of how he and his immediate family personalized Nigeria’s treasury. (This DAY, May 30, 2002)

An excellent way to get rich quick is to be the ex-wife of an ex-president. This is what Mrs. Vera Chiluba is claiming from ex president Chiluba in her application to Ndola High Court: She wants US$2.5 billion in a lump sum, and claims she can prove he has the funds available. She also requires maintenance for their nine children, none of whom are in gainful employment. She also needs a share in 6 properties in Ndola and a commercial farm in Chi samba. Also she needs a new executive Mercedes Benz 500 (or 600), a new Land Cruiser, a new Nissan Patrol, drivers as well and a court order for the return of 400 cattle, sheep and goats which are still at State Lodge.This was taken from the Zambia Post and was also reported in The Zambia Society Newsletter compiled by the glamorous Maggie Currie. Are African presidents the only ones so clever in accumulating wealth so quickly? Even ex president Marcos of the Philippines didn’t get hold of such huge amounts in such a short time. (Elias Georgopoullos, Saturday, April 27, 2002 at 12:52:22 PDT)

The French journal, ‘L’Evenement du jeudi published an article stating that the president of Cameroon, Paul Biya, is worth more than $45 billion FCA, money gleaned from the sales of petroleum. Mr. Biya has not refuted these claims.(Post watch Fact File report by Ntemfac Ofeae, undated).

The late president Mobutu of the Democratic Republic of Congo holds the record for financial plunder and national ruin. It is estimated that he stole $4 billion, leaving the country poorer than he found it, with ruined infrastructure and no formal economy to speak of. A close second to Mobutu is the late dictator of Nigeria, Sani Abacha, whose rule left 70 percent of Nigeria’s 120 million people living on less than one dollar per day. In Kenya, the Daniel Arap Moi dictatorship must be given credit for the systematic destruction of what used to be Africa’s economic showcase from the 1960s through the 70s. The authoritative Africa Confidential put Moi’s external bank holdings at $3 billion. In the so-called Goldenberg scandal, the Moi regime bolted with an estimated $1 biliion from its own central bank (12 percent of the national’s GDP), setting off a spiral of inflation, economic stagnation, unemployment, crime, ruined agricultural sector and decaying public services. (Testimony on the social and political costs of the theft of public funds by African Dictators: US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services by Michael Chege, University of Florida, May 9, 2002)

Recent surveys carried out by the World Bank in a series of developing countries to compare budget allocations to actual spending at the facility level have confirmed that resources are not allocated according to underlying budget decision. In Uganda and Tanzania, large parts of funds were diverted elsewhere or for private gain. (U4 Utstein Anti corruption resource website) Peter Machungwa, Home Affairs Minister, Godden Mandandi, Works and supply Minister were arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the disappearance of $2 billion in government funds.(Business Day, October 24, 2002) Paul Tembo, former deputy minister of Finance, was shot dead in his home hours before testifying in corruption trial of three cabinet ministers. (BBC News, July 9, 2001). Zambian police and politicians have been identified to be the worst corrupt elements in the country. (AllAfrica.com, March 1, 2001)

Other names mentioned by the French Weekly were President Henri Bedie of Ivory Coast, 2 billion FF (or 300 million); President Denis N'guesso of Congo, 1.2 billion FF (or 200 million); President Omar Bongo of Gabon, 0.5 billion FF (or $ $80 million); President Paul Biya of Cameroon, 450 million FF (or $70 million); President Haile Mariam of Ethiopia, 200 million FF (or $30 million); and President Hissene Habre of Chad, 20 million FF (or $3 million). Bear in mind that this list does not reflect the actual amount of money stolen out of Africa by these dictators. Factually, the mentioned figures had changed significantly since the French Weekly article was published in 1997. There are now new African billionaires and millionaires, including indicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor, President Gabassinga Eyadema of Togo, former Liberian Warlord Alhaji Kromah, former Ghanaian dictator Jerry J. Rawlings, and the late President Samuel Doe of Liberia; a host of African government ministers would make an updated list. While returning funds stolen out of Africa is the right thing to do, efforts must be made by the West and responsible African governments {i.e. the government of Botswana, etc.} to alter international banking laws that will make it difficult for Africa's government officials and corrupt business personalities to transfer huge funds into western banks. The measure was first proposed following the September 11, 2001 attacks but was rebuffed by western financial institutions. Again, we need to revisit this issue: the terrorists could use the thieves in Africa's government Ministries to transfer money into western bank accounts—the money could be used at a later time for terrorists' activities

Arap Moi's Loots

The Kroll report revealed an intricate network of companies that were used to transfer billions of shillings to foreign countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands and Brunei among other countries using shell companies and dummy trusts registered in safe havens. The report also revealed the individuals and wealthy families who were behind the siphoning of enormous amounts of money out of the country and the banks that were involved. The Kroll report described in detail the assets owned by various politically connected families and individuals in a total of 28 countries across the world including hotels and residences in South Africa and the United States, a 10 000 ha ranch in Australia,3 hotels in London, a 4million pound house in Surrey and a 2million pound penthouse flat in Knightsbridge

Mother Ghana

I love Ghana, my mother land. Ghana is my only home. I must protect its people, its culture, its peace, its economy and its democracy and our children's children so that future generations will live to enjoy every aspect of the country.

Yes there are many tribes, languages, dialects and cultures but we are all Ghanaians. There is no tribe but Ghana. There is no political party but Ghana. Peace and unity is what we need to build the country. Politicians and political parties will come and go but Ghana will remain. So if we build it well today, our children will live to bless us. Together we stand divided we fall.